Window operating mechanism



Dec. 3, 1935. w. w. FULLER i WINDOW OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 26, 1954 Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE wnvnow ornaa'rmo. MECHANISM William W. Fuller, Norfolk, Va.

Application February 26, 1984, Serial No. '113,033 e claims. (ci. zes- 124) This invention relates to means for raising and lowering the sash of windows and whereby motor driven means are connected to the upper and lower sash of windows so that either the upper or lower sash can be raised or lowered selectively from one motor.

It is an object of this invention to provide a hollow shaft threaded on its exterior and having engagement with one of the window sashes for l0,raising and lowering the same and to provide a threaded rod disposed within the hollow shaft and having threaded engagement with the other sash for raising and lowering the same and a motor adapted to be selectively connected to each l5`A of these shafts for selectively raising or lowering the sashes of the window. 'I'he mechanism is applicable to any window sash without the necessity of reconstruction of either the window sashes or the window frame.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pair of shafts threaded on their exterior and engaging threaded means attachable to the 1 upper and lower sashes of a window and having e motor driven connections for driving these shafts for raising and lowering the window sashes and also having safety means whereby when a window sash has been raised or lowered to a predetermined extent the motor will be automatically stopped.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, the details will appear more fully when taken in connection with a detailed description hereinafter following, reference being had to the drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is an elevation of a window with my sash operating mechanism attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a sec'tinal yplan view taken along the line 2--2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along 4o line 3--3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the method in which the motor is wired;

Figure 5 is a view showing another means for connecting the sash arms to the threaded rods;

Referring more particularly to the drawmg, the numerals I0 and II denote the conventional jambs of a window frame which have secured at their upper ends a head portion I2 and at their 50.. lower ends a sill I3. Mounted in this frame are sashes I 4 and I5. Heretofore, sashes I4 and I5 have been raised and lowered by various means such as weights and cords and it is an object of this invention to provide a purely mechanical 455l means which will automatically raise or lower ythe window sashes upon the manipulation of a suitable switch.

Secured to the upper sash is a suitable arm I8 by any suitable means such as screws I1. This arm projects to the right in Figure 3 and has an 5 interiorily threaded bore in the right-hand end thereof which is adapted to threadably engage a vertically disposed rod I 8, said rod I8 being rotatably mounted at its upper end in a suitable bearing I8 which is secured to the window head l0 I2 by any suitable means such as screws 2li. Rod I8 projects downwardly and is rotatably secured at its lower end in housing 2|. I'he lower sash I4 has secured thereto by screws 25 an arm 26 which is adapted to engage rod 21. 'I'he rightl5 hand end of arm 26 is similar in all respects to the right-hand end oi' arm I6 and has an interiorly threaded bore which is adapted to engage the threaded portion 30 on rod 21. Rod 21 is conned around the lower portion of rod I8 and 20 is adapted to rotate therearound.

Loosely mounted around the central portion of rod I8 is a coil spring 3| which is adapted to press the arm I6 upwardly when the upper sash is in lowered position. It is evident that when the 25 right-hand end portion of arm I6, which engages the threaded portion 32 of rod I8, is lowered it will rest upon the spring 3l. Since spring 3I will normally press the arm upwardly the threaded bore in the right-hand portion of the 30 arm I6 will contact the threaded portion 32 at all times. When the motor is reversed in this position the threaded portion 32 will engage the interiorly threaded portion of arm I6 and therefore the window will be raised.

The construction of the lower rod 30 is similar in all respects to upper rod I 8. It will be noted that the central portion of the rods 21 and 30 are threaded whereas the upper and lower portions are blank. When the threaded portion of arm 40 26 reaches the uppermost portion of rod 21 where there are no threads the sash I4 will be raised in its uppermost position and the weight of the sash will normally force the threads in the right-hand portion of arm 26 against the threads of rod 21 45 and by reversing the direction of the motor the threads on the rod will engage the threads in arm 26 and the window will be lowered.

In the lowermost position as shown in Figure 3, of the sash I4 the arm 26 engages a collar 33 50 which is secured around pipe 34 by any suitable means such as set screw 35. Pipe 34 is slidably mounted atl its upper end in member I9 whereas at the lower .end a receptacle is provided. 'I'he upper portion I9 has mounted therein a compres- 55 sion spring 31 which normally forces the pipe 34 downwardly whereas the receptacle 36 which is integral with the housing 2| has mounted therein another compression spring 36 which forces the pipe upwardly. By having spring 36 oi' suillcient strength to push the sash and pipe upwardly, it is evident that wherthe arm 26 engages the collar 33 that the sash will be normally pushed upwardly which will cause the threaded portion of arm 26 to be pushed against the threaded portion 36 oi the rod 21 at all times. In the position shown in Figure 3, i! it is desired to raise the lower sash by reversing the direction of rotation o! the rod the threads in arm 26 will readily engage the threads on rod 21.

It should be noted that pipe 34 is slotted on the inside adjacent the window sash the entire length for the purpose of allowing the arms i6 and 26 to have vertical movement. Also mounted on pipe 34 are collars 4I, 42 and 43 by any suitable means such as set screws 4|a, 42a and 43a. By adjusting these collars in the desired position the'motor switch can be automatically cut oil? when the window has been raised to the desired position. Collars 4|, 42 and 43 as well as` collar 33 operate the switch mechanism which will be later described.

The lower end of rod 21 has iixedly secured thereon a gear 44 whereas the lower end of rod i8 has a similar gear 45 flxedly secured thereon. Thesegears are adapted to mesh with another gear 41 which is i'lxedly secured on rod 46, said rod 46 being mounted in the housing 2|. Adapted to mesh with gear 41 is a smaller gear 46 which is also mounted in housing 2| and this gear meshes with another gear 56 mounted onv motor shaft 46.

Housing 2| is divided into two portions 2 la and 2| b, the portion' 2lb being removable for inspection of the gears on the inside thereof. The lower portion 2|a is adapted to ilt over the motor housing 5| as at 52, and by referring to Figure 2 it can be seen that the housing 2| and the window operating means associated therewith are adapted to have pivoted movement about the point 52. This will allow adjustment oi' the window operating mechanism to any desired depth of window sill without affecting the structure in any way.

Motor housing 5| is secured to the window sill I3 by any suitable means such as screws 521a and on the interior of the motor housing is mounted a motor 53 as at 54. Collar 33 has integral therewith a horizontally disposed arm 56 which penetrates a collar 51.

A set screw 56 penetrates collar 51 and secures the rod 56 in the collar 51 in any desired position.

The length of rod 55 will vary slightly when the housing 2| and the pipe 34 are rotated, therefore, by using the screw 58 and the sliding iit between the rods 56 and the collar 51 the adjustment as to the effective length of arm 56 can be made after the upper portion 2| and its associated parts have been secured to the window. 'When portion 2| is secured to the window sill as at 66 the necessity for the adjustment of rod 56 in collar 51 will be no longer necessary after it has been once adjusted. Secured to the collar 51 is a vertically disposed rod 6I which projects downwardly through the motor housing 5| and the lower end is slidably mounted in lug 62 within the motor housing. A spring 64 is confined between the lug 62 and nut 63 on the lower end of rod 6|, whereas anotherspring 65 is conned above the lug 62 and is held in position by collar 66 secured to rod 6|.

Pivotally secured to collar 66 is a flexible member 61 and this member 61 is secured to switch 66 which is pivoted as at 66. Referring to Figure 3,

it is evident that springs 64 and 66 normally hold the switchin open position. For example, when it is desired for the motor 63 to rotate in one di- 5 rection the switch arm 66 is pushed downwardly, and the wires 1| and 1|a are connected to wires 13 'and 13a.

Since the member 61 is ilexible the switch can be manually closed and upon the contact of these 10 wires the circuit will be completed and the current will ilow through wires 1| and 13, motor 66. ileld coil 14, wire 13a and wire 1Ia. I! it be desired to reverse the direction oi' the motor from that just described, the wires 16 and 16a will be 16 caused to contact the wires 12 and 12a. In this position the current would ilow through wire 16,

wire 12, ileld coil 14, motor 56, wire 12a and wire As has been previously stated, the collars 4|, 20 42 and 43 may be located at any suitable position along the pipe 34 and should it be desired to raise the lower sash only partially open, the collar 63 would be lowered from the position shown in Figure 3. In this position when arm 26 would 25 engage collar 43 the pipe 34 would be moved upwardly a slight distancecarrying with it the arm 56 and the vertically disposed rod 6|. This slight upward movement of rod 6| would move the flexible member 61 upwardly and cause the 30 right-hand portion oi' switch 66 to be moved downwardly to open position as shown in Figure 3. This action is based on the assumption that when it is desired to raise the sash, the right-hand end sash is lowered the right-hand end of the switch is moved downwardly thereby making contact between either wires 16, 16a and 12, 12a or wires 1|,1|a and 13,13a.

It is seen that when arm 66a is rotated in a 40 clock-wise direction about point 66 by the movement of rod 6|, the contact between wires 16 and 12 and 16a and 12a will be broken. In like manner when the window is lowered, arm 26 contacts collar 33 andV pushes rod 6| downwardly. This 45 will break the connection between wires 1| and 13 and 1|a and 13a since arm 66h will be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction.

Rod 46 which has gear 41 mounted thereon is adapted to be moved upwardly or downwardly,- 60 depending upon which sash will be operated.

If the lower sash is to be operated, the gear 41 is pulled upwardly and caused to mesh with gear 44. In like manner, if the lower sash is desired to be operated, rod 46 is pushed downwardly 55 and gear 4 1 will mesh with gear 46". It is thus seen that by having a reversible switch on motor 53 and by having rod 46 with gear 41 thereon that the upper or lower sash can be moved up or down as desired, and by spacing collars 4|, 42 and 43 so the switch can be actuated and the motor stopped automatically when the window has reached any desired position.

It will be noted that by observing Figure 3, that the lower end of pipe 34 has a plug 66 thread- 65 ably mounted therein in which is rotatably mounted the lower portion of rod 21. A collar 8| disposed immediately beneath plug 66 and being ilxedly secured on the restricted portion oi' rod 21 causes rod 21 to be integral with pipe 34; 70 consequently any vertical movement ofV rod 21 will be transferred to pipe 34, arms 66, rod 6| and switch 66. Let us suppose that collars 4|, 42 and 43 are in the position shown in Figure 3, but the lower sash I4 has been raised until arm 75 26 engages the center of the threaded portion 30, and in this position the switch 88 is pulled downwardly and the upper sash I begins to be lowered. When the arm I8 of the sash I5 contacts the upper portion of sash I4, the arm 26 will move rod 21 and pipe 34 downwardly a slight amount which in turn will cause members 56 and 8| to actuate switch 68 to cut off the motor. It is thus seen that when the collars 4I, 42 and 43 are not properly located that the motor will automatically cut off when one sash engages another. Since collar 82 is xedly secured to the lower end of shaft I8, it is seen that should the upper sash I5 be lowered until arm I6 engages the center of threaded portion 32 and at that time the-lower sash be raised by the motor when the upper portion of sash I4 contacted arm I6, rod I8, collar 82, rod 21 and pipe 34 would also be raised to cause the switch to beautomatically cut off.

If desired, the arms which connect the sashes with the threaded rods may be divided into two pieces as shown in Figure 5. In this figure, arm I6a is fastened to an interiorly threaded nut 15 by means of set screws 15a, which makes the structure easier to assemble or dismantle.

In the drawing specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for raising and lowering the sashes of windows comprising a vertically disposed tubular member having threads on its exterior, a bracket secured to one sash and threadably engaging the threads on said tubular member, a pinion on the lower end of the tubular member, a threaded shaft disposed within said tubular member, a pinion on the lower end of the shaft, a bracket secured to the other sash and threadably engaging said shaft, a vertically movable pinion selectively engageable with one of said pinions at a time, an electric motor for driving said vertically movable pinion, a switch for controlling the motor, and resilient means for permitting vertical movement of the shaft and tubular member when undue strain is applied thereto, and means operable by vertical movement of the shaft and tubefor opening said switch.

2. Means for raising and lowering the sashes of windows comprising a vertically disposed tubular member having threads on its exterior, a bracket secured to one sash and threadably engaging the threads on said tubular member, a pinion on the lower end of the tubular member, a threaded shaft disposed within said tubular member, a pinion on the lower end of the shaft, a bracket secured to the other sash and threadably engaging said shaft, a vertically movable pinion selectively engageable with one of said pinions at a time, a motor for driving said vertically movable pinion, a slotted pipe surrounding said shaft and tubular member and having means engageable by said brackets for moving the pipe and having means operable thereby for stopping the motor.

3. Means for raising and lowering the sashes of windows comprising a vertically disposed 5 tubular member having threads on its exterior, a bracket secured to one sash and threadably engaging the threads on said tubular member, a pinion on the lower end of the tubular member, a threaded shaft disposed within said tubular mem- 10 ber, a pinion on the lower end of the shaft, a. bracket secured to the other sash and threadably engaging said shaft, a vertically movable pinion selectively engageable with one of said pinions at a time, a motor for driving said vertically movable pinion, a switch for controlling said motor and means engageable by said brackets for opening said switch when the sashes have been moved a predetermined amount.

4. Means for lowering and raising window sashes comprising a vertically disposed tubular member having threads on its exterior and a threaded shaft disposed within the tubular member, the tubular member and the shaft having each a pinion on the lower end thereof, means secured to each of the sashes and secured respectively to the tubular member and the shaft,

a pinion mounted for vertical sliding movement to selectively engage the pinion on the shaft andthe tubular member, an electric motor having a driving connection with said vertically sliding pinion, switch means for selectively causing the motor to turn in one of two directions and means controlled by the movement of the sashes for opening said switch when either of the sashes 85 have been moved to a. predetermined position.

5. Means for lowering and raising the sashes of a window comprising a fixture adapted to be secured to the central upper and lower portions of a window frame, said fixture having a threaded tube and a threaded rod disposed within the tube, brackets on the sashes threadably engaging said rod and tube, a motor for imparting movement, one at a time, to said rod and tube, means for selectively connecting the motor to the rod or tube, a switch controlling said motor and means operable by said brackets for opening said switch and stopping the motor when the sashes have reached an open or closed position.

6.*Means for raising and lowering a sash in a window frame comprising a threaded shaft. a slotted pipe surrounding said shaft, a bracket secured to the sash and penetrating said slotted pipe and threadably engaging said shaft, means for driving said shaft comprising a housing having one of its ends surrounding the lower end of the shaft and rotatable on the shaft, a motor housing disposed on the end of the first housing.

a motor in said motor housing, a train of gears .o between the motor and said shaft and being disposed in said rotatable housing, whereby the position of the motor may be adjustedto llt window sills oi' various depths.

WILLIAM W. FULLER. g5 

